CTC receives grant for STEM scholars

Bridgemont Community and Technical College will receive $617,500 in federal funding to provide scholarships for talented students in its applied and engineering technology programs. The funding comes from the National Science Foundation's Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, which gives grants to colleges and universities to use toward scholarships.

The funding was announced this week by Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Rep. Nick Rahall, all D-W.Va.

"Studying the STEM fields holds tremendous promise for West Virginia's students. I have long believed that an education centered around strong math and technology skills will prepare our youngest generations with the necessary tools to compete in the global economy that is increasingly being driven by jobs in these fields," Rockefeller said in a statement announcing the grant. "Investing in STEM is also a boon for our economy as those graduates who remain in West Virginia will help us grow a workforce that is part of our state's economic future."

Manchin said, "This scholarship funding will provide first-time students in rural West Virginia with the skills necessary to succeed in finding good-paying jobs and can help lead to a stronger, more robust workforce across our great state."

Rahall also said, "Investing in those who live in rural areas, who may well be the first in their family to go to college, and who show an aptitude for STEM education, is bound to yield many fruitful returns for our economy."